Baccalaureate Chapel of the Holy Zoom May 24, 2020
Welcome and Opening Prayer
The Rev. Joshua A. Hill, Chaplain
O God in whom we live and move and have our being, we gather in good spirits on this special day to honor you and to celebrate the graduates of the Holderness Class of 2020. As we read scripture, pray, and reflect together virtually, may your loving, liberating, and life-giving Spirit help us find your deep and abiding peace that we might claim the gift of joy on this marvelous day. In the name of Jesus and all that is Holy, Amen. Epistle Reading: Philippians 4:4-8
Mr. Devin Shepherd ’20
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-16
Ms. Macy Arsenault ’20
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.’ The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God Sermon: “Words of Wisdom and Wit” Prelude to Prayer
A Litany for Spring 2020
Adults of Holderness r. Rodolpho Beer, ’20 M co-author of Litany for Spring 2020 Mr. Adam McNabney ’21 School President-Elect
Let us pray. O God we call out to you on this graduation day with prayers of lament and hopeful dedication. For the loss of the Spring we wanted; we did not play Spike Ball on the quad; we did not hear the crack of the bat; there was no Spring Head’s Holiday; we will not graduate on campus. Give us the grace to accept this. For the loss of our normalcy; for the absence of routines we used to follow; for the friends we no longer encounter on the path; for the health and safety we once took for granted. Give us the grace to accept this. For lively places made silent: hallways without hellos; classrooms without classes; rehearsal spaces without rehearsal; for the goodbyes we say only virtually, for now. Give us the grace to accept this.
For dances not danced; for ceremonies we missed; for songs not sung; for photographs not captured; and for championship seasons manifested only in broken dreams. Give us the grace to accept this. From this day forward may we relinquish our fears and cling instead to your promises. Give us the courage to do this. May we commit and recommit to loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Give us the courage to do this. May we learn and remember to forgive those who trespass against us. Give us the courage to do this. And May we live ever more fully for God and humankind. Give us the courage to do this. Amen. Prayer for Graduates
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Fr. Hill
O God, from whom we come, and to whom we go: We offer you thanks for this time of adaptive change, of departures and arrivals, for greater knowledge of ourselves and of you, for our friendships, opportunities, and new perspectives. Help us to remember. Help us to become. Help us lead lives for God and humankind. From this day forth and forevermore. Amen. Blessing of Grace ​by The Rev. William Sloane Coffin
​Fr. Hill
May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; and Grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.